Petrodvorets Watch Factory

Vase from the Imperial Fabrique of Peterhof

The Petrodvorets Watch Factory (Russian: Петродворцовый часовой завод) is the oldest factory in Russia. Founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the Peterhof Lapidary Works, to make hardstone carvings, since 1945 the factory manufactures the Soviet Pobeda watches and since 1961 it has manufactured the Soviet Raketa watches. In almost 300 years of history, the factory has changed name several times. Petrodvorets is located in Saint Petersburg

Before the Russian Revolution

Initially, the factory produced luxury objects in semi-precious and precious stones for the palaces of the Tsars. We find these objects now in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, but also in most of the palaces of Europe, like Versailles, the Louvre or Sanssouci.

During Soviet times

Before World War 2

In Soviet times, the plant has continued to work on precious stones. This plant has produced among others, the Mausoleum of Lenin in 1924 and the Kremlin stars in 1935.

In the prewar years, the skilled workers began manufacturing precision and measurement instruments for the Red Army and the new industry of Russian watches.

Destroyed during the Siege of Leningrad

Destroyed by Nazi troops during the Siege of Leningrad, the plant was rebuilt from 1944 at the liberation of the city. In 1945 Joseph Stalin - who wanted to reduce USSR's dependence on imports from the West - gave the order to the factory to manufacture watches. The first watches were produced in the factory under the brand Pobeda and Zvezda. In 1961, in honor of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the factory created its new brand, Raketa, which makes its reputation throughout the world of Communist influence.

In its glory years after the war, the plant employed 8,000 people, produced 4.5 million watches per year for Soviet citizens and the needs of the Red Army. The plant is equipped with two atomic bunkers that can accommodate 8,000 people in the case of a western nuclear attack, had its own schools, university, hospital, resorts on the Black Sea, camps for Communist Youth Pioneer organization and Komsomol and its orchestras.

After 1991

Today, the plant has dramatically cut production following the troubled years of privatization and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite huge difficulties in adapting to the capitalist system, Raketa is one of the few (together with Vostok and Zaria) watch manufacturers, remained after the fall of USSR.

Tourism

Today, the factory - that was considered as strategic, and closed to visitors during Soviet times - is opened to tourism. Peterhof having average 3 millions visitors per year, the factory has become a popular tour. Guides show around the production facility that gives a feeling of traveling back to the USSR, but also to learn about clock manufacturing.^[1]

Brands owned by the Petrodvorets Watch Factory

From Soviet time

- Raketa - luxury brand, fully manufactured in-house

The factory's high end production, Raketa was created in 1961 in honor of Yuri Gagarin's flight to space. One of the rare watch brands in the world producing its movements in-house from A to Z, Raketa is famous for its watches made for cosmonauts, polar expeditions, pilots and military.^[2]

- Pobeda - afordable, loaded with History

Founded by Stalin himself in 1945, Pobeda is probably Russia's most popular brand for the last 100 years. First watch to have been in space in 1961, Pobeda has always been a popular and afordable Russian brand.^[3]

From Tzarist times

- Talberg

Talberg is a watch brand the factory owns from before the Revolution. The Factory is thinking of relaunching it in the coming years as a niche brand

- Imperial Lapidary Work of Peterhof

This is how the factory was named before 1917. As a brand it belongs to the Petrodvorets Watch Factory and from time to time you hear of a multi-million piece sold in auctions in London under that name.^[4][5]

Names used by the Factory during History

1721 - 1917

Imperial Fabric of Peterhof or - Imperial Lapidary Work of Peterhof

1917 - 1949

TTK nr 1 or - TTK1

since 1949

Petrodvorets Watсh Factory or - Petrodvorets Watch Factory "Raketa" or - Peterhof Watch Factory

References

• Sukhorukova A. E. / Watches: The Case of a Masters, Publisher: Det. USSR 1983. 108 pages;
• Tioutenkova A. G. / To Make the Time, Publisher: Lenizdat, USSR 1986, 181 pages.

Purveyors to the Russian Imperial Family
Ararat Breguet Chichelev Chopard Cristal F. Meltzer & Co. Farina gegenüber Gus-Khrustalny Crystal Factory House of Fabergé Imperial Porcelain Factory Khlebnikov Mikimoto Kōkichi Ovchinnikov Patek Philippe & Co. Sazikoff Shustov & Sons Smirnoff Steinway & Sons Stepan Razin Brewery Tiffany & Co.
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